Reikan-ji (霊鑑寺)

Reikan-ji (霊鑑寺)Reikan-ji (霊鑑寺)Reikan-ji (霊鑑寺)Reikan-ji (霊鑑寺)Reikan-ji (霊鑑寺)Reikan-ji (霊鑑寺)Reikan-ji (霊鑑寺)Reikan-ji (霊鑑寺)

A short walk from other major spots such as the Philosopher's path, Ginkaku-ji, Honen-in or Anraku-ji, Reikan-ji is not very popular for it is rarely open, only a couple of weeks per year. The temple was built in 1654 by emperor Gomizuno, who promptly made is daughter (and thus princess) the first abbess of the temple. The abbess-princess tradition continued until the Meiji restoration. Many buildings were part of an imperial palace which was located here before the temple was built but the main hall (hondo - 本堂) is more recent: it was built in 1803.

The garden in front of the main hall is typical of the Edo period with moss and a few standing stones. The depression was originally filled with water flowing from the mountain but is now dry. A couple of other gardens are located behind the main buildings, but one seems inaccessible (check the green yard on google maps). Inside the temple is a small collection of Japanese dolls (ningyo - 人形), but for a full ningyo experience you should visit Hokyo-ji (宝鏡寺) which is also closed most of the year, unfortunately.

Recommended for: Access: 600 円

Nearby: Wachu-an 和中庵 (80m), Anraku-ji 安楽寺 (80m), Yōji-ya よーじや銀閣寺店 (200m), Sakuradanicho 47 桜谷町47 (220m), Ōtoyo-jinja 大豊神社 (270m), Hōnen-in 法然院 (350m), Kōun-ji 光雲寺 (440m), Saiun-in 西雲院 (630m), Shinyo-dō 真如堂 (640m), Ginkaku-ji 銀閣寺 (690m),...

External links: Kyoto Navi, Kyoto Design, 京都風光, Inside Kyoto, そうだ京都, Satellite view, Map

Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, 南左京, Sakyo-ku, 霊鑑寺, Reikan-ji, temple, 寺院, 仏閣

Statistics: visited on 4 occasions, id 457, 16 photos (19 extra photos can be found in the archive).

Photos of Reikan-ji:

Rock garden in autumn, Reikan-ji temple
Stone lantern in rock garden in autumn, Reikan-ji temple
Pine ladle on tsukubai water basin with two pink flowers, Reikan-ji temple
Reikan-ji temple zen rock and moss garden
Red maple leaves and tiled roof in Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Bright red maple foliage over the garden of Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Camellia flowers on roof tile, Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Moss-covered tsukubai water basin with bamboo ladle and camellia flowers, Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Fallen camellia petals on moss, Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Camellia flower fallen on moss garden, Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Fallen pink camellia flowers on moss, Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Karin fruit and sign locked between the branches of a karin tree, Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Camellia of various colours placed in a mossy tsukubai water basin, Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Fallen white camellia flower on moss, Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Pink camellia and petals on water basin, Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan